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Community
Windshield Survey Tool For Community Health Nurses to be able to knowledgeably plan services for a community, it is essential to know a specific community, identify health-related resources that may be helpful to members, and learn about gaps in services. A windshield survey is conducted from a car and provides a visual overview of a community. Conditions and trends in the community that could affect the health of the population are noted. This data provides background and context for working in the community or for conducting a community assessment. The clinical instructor will make specific assignments for the Survey. Information gathered from this survey is to be incorporated in the groups wiki for the Community Assessment Project. Boundaries Are the boundaries geographical, political, or economic? How is this seen? Do neighborhoods have names? Are there subcommunities? How are these identified? Notes

Housing and Zoning What is the age of the buildings? What are the construction materials? Are the residences single family or multifamily dwellings? What is the size and condition of the lots (repaired or damaged)?

Signs of Decay Is the area well maintained or in disrepair? Is there garbage strewn? Are there trashed/abandoned cars, places for rodents or other wildlife to hide, vacant lots?

Parks and Recreational Areas Are there play areas for children and adults? Are they safe and maintained? Who uses them?

Common Areas Where do people collect for social gatherings of all sorts; where do they hang out? Are they for particular groups or are they open to all? Are there signs posted?

Stores What stores (grocery, retail, drug, dry cleaning, etc.) are in the area? How do residents travel to them?

3 Transportation How do most people get around the area? Is there public transportation? If so what kind and does it appear to be used? Who uses it? What is the condition of the streets, roads, highways?

Communication Is there evidence of local and national newspapers to other media? Are there informational posters on streets, busses, billboards, etc.?

Service Centers Where the services for the community are located health care, social services, schools, employment offices etc.?

4 People in the Community Who is in the area during the day? How are they dressed? Are there animals (pets) with them or in the area? What evidence is there of particular. classes of people upper, middle, working, lower?

Industries What are the major industries? What types of occupations are evident?

Protective Services Where are fire and police stations located? Is there evidence of police and fire protection in the area? Is it more in one region than another?

5 Ethnicity What is the predominant ethnic group? Are there residents from a variety of ethnic backgrounds or is the community mostly one group? Which one? Are there stores, restaurants, churches, schools, or languages that indicate a particular ethnic group(s)?

Religion What churches and church-run schools are in the area? Who apparently uses them and when? How many are there?

6 Health and Morbidity Is there evidence of any health problems such as drug abuse, communicable diseases, chronic diseases, mental illnesses etc.?

Politics Is there evidence of any political activity? Are there any signs that indicate predominant political parties and political concerns?

(Modified from Stanhope M., & Knollmueller, R. N. (1997). Public and community health nurses consultant: A health promotion guide. St. Louis: Mosby.)